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Sunday, 30 April 2017

Well yes, there has been some progress here in the sewing room, and my improv pieced, low volume, scrappy magic numbers project is a quilt now. However, once I got it together and machine quilted all over the quilt in my usual straight line 1/4" outline way, and added the binding, I couldn't resist trying out just a little bit of big stitch hand quilting . . . and once I started, I just couldn't stop.

So, it's all round the wrong way- you know, the binding should be the last step, yes?
But I'm enjoying this so much, doing lots & lots of ‘slow stitching’ and having fun thinking of all the different ways I could embellish those low volume squares. {see over here, here and here for earlier quilt details, progress photos & inspiration source}

That little 'cross' stitch is so quick & easy, it's one *Jen Kingwell does on some of her quilts.

- such a great idea.

and the New York Beauty and Butterfly 'orphan' blocks . . .

My quilt measures 165cms x 158cms. I still have quite a bit of big stitch quilting to do yet, it's so nice to have some handwork on the go now the evenings are getting cooler. Linking up with Cynthia for 'oh scrap' here and with Kathyhere for 'slow Sunday stitching'

a bit more # 58

There are lots of tutorials out there about handquilting.

Here's a few favourites I refer to often -

Sarah Fielke's one on big stitch hand quilting, which you can find here and there's another indepth tutorial here covering traditional as well as big stitch quilting.
There are some great videos over here, Jen Kingwell on handquilting, including her * 'cross' stitch quilting technique. Wendy from wendysquiltsandmore has written an informative post all about her quilting thoughts with lots of wonderful photos too, well worth checking out. Oh, and the tutorial for a 'magic numbers' quilt is here by Katie over at sewkatiedid, #afunpattern.

Friday, 28 April 2017

I initally machine quilted all over the quilt,
a combination of straight line in-the-ditch and 1/4" outline, nothing fancy
just enough to secure the layers without distracting from the scrappy feel of the quilt.

And then I spent a bit of time adding in some big stitch hand quilting embellishments
including adding these french knots to my broderie perse flower centre . . .

I've had my son here from Melbourne for a week :)

and he was happy to be my quiltholder for this photo shoot

My finished quilt measures 150cms x 130cms.
Fabrics used include a selection of AMH fabrics, mainly the softer pastel ones,
a little Amy B., a couple of oriental fabrics, along with a selection of low volume fabrics
and a Martha Negley Seasons Collection Winter Fabric in Cream for the border.
See here where I wrote about my inspiration and making the broderie perse centre
and there's more progress pics here, here and here.

Linking up with Myra for TGIFF here
and with Cynthia for 'oh scrap' hereAnd there's still time to link up to 'sew stitch snap SHARE' here to share your WiPsLink up now closed

a bit more #57
If you want to see a few more versions of the 'emperor's wheel' quilt
follow the IG link here

A lot of fabric freedom and fun and it was quick to make,
which is just what you need sometimes.

I did some straight line machine quilting all over the quilt, nothing fancy
just enough to secure the layers without distracting from the scrappy feel of the quilt.
I'm adding a little bit of big stitch quilting embellishment too
- more about that in another post.

Time now for 'Sew, Stitch, Snap, SHARE'

My pick from last time was this Gwennie-inspired Liberated Medallion quilt

I love the bright colours and those little scattered scrappy stars everywhere.

So what have you been working on over the past few days. Whatever you're sewing or stitching, you can link it up here. Just follow these simple guidelines:

1. Link up from any post from the past week that features something you have been sewing or stitching. You can write as much or as little about your project as you like, or simply let your photos do the talking.
2. Somewhere in your post, please link back to this post.
3. Please comment on a couple of the other Sew, Stitch, Snap, SHARE links - its fun to receive comments from new people, and we are trying to encourage people to read blogs and keep blogging too.

Thanks for joining us again, we can't wait to see what you have all been creating,Julie & Linda

Tuesday, 18 April 2017

Well, I've kept on cutting up extra scrap squares into usable pieces as I work on my present project, selecting mainly lots of low volumes and a few brights.
Initially I had no idea how I was going to use them, and then I stumbled upon a tutorial for a 'magic numbers' quilt here by Katie over at sewkatiedid. The squares are 2 1/2" 4 1/2" and 6 1/2" which all fit nicely together. It's a great idea for a spot of scrap busting and a relatively simple way to try out some improv.

My challenge was to use no new fabrics for this quilt as the scrap basket was overflowing . . . again. When I had quite a few squares cut out, I began sewing them together in little slabs. And once I started playing with them I couldn't stop. I also added a few leftover orphan blocks to create some interest.

First section all done . . .

but I'm enjoying this and I do want it a bit bigger
so I'm moving onto another section this week . . . gotta use up those neverending scraps

Fabrics used so far include leftover outback wife bits & pieces, Kaffe, AMH, fabrics from a BOM that I didn't complete, 'gingercrush' from Treehouse Textiles in Australia, some Blueberry Park bits by Karenlewistextiles, and a tiny bit of Liberty.

Sunday, 16 April 2017

WOW what a great response to our first ever 'Sew, Stitch, Snap, SHARE' link up

Thanks for joining in with Julie & I and keeping the love of blogging alive
- pop back here if you missed it.

And here we are into April already. I've got lots of projects simmering away, some in my head, some up on the design wall. But . . . it's beginning to feel like I haven't had a "finish" for ages. This long Easter weekend I put everything else aside, and set about fixing that.

I've had a pile of leftover string blocks sitting around for ages now, waiting . . . waiting . . . very patiently. These 6" blocks have been made up from all the leftover scrappy bits I'd been saving from lots of earlier quilts, as far back as when I had my little patchwork shop {and we are talking years ago here, about 1986}.
I've mixed up all sorts of busy prints with checks, dots, small scale prints, some Liberties, some Kaffe, a little bit of chintz, and low volume fabrics.

With the string piecing all ready done

it turned out to be such a simple thing to stitch them all together . . .

Wednesday, 12 April 2017

Here's a little peek at what I've been busy doing this week - scrap sorting. I've been on a mission, cutting up extra scrap squares as I work on my present project. I guess it's also a tidy-as-I-go effort too, bit of a novel approach for me. I used the suggested square sizes 2 1/2" 4 1/2" and 6 1/2" from Katie's tutorial here over at sewkatiedid. These blocks all automatically fit together, making improv relatively easy.

I cut out lots and lots of squares, a mixture of brights and quirky low volume fabrics. And somewhere along the way, it all suddenly started looking really b.o.r.i.n.g.

Then I had a "what if" moment . . .

. . . what if I added other random blocks and segments from my 'rejected' basket,

some bright ones like this sweet butterfly I made ages ago

ah yes, this is beginning to look much better
- think I'll keep cutting up scrappy squares for just a bit longer

Julie from JulieLou and I decided that we needed a regular mid-week link up to share WIPS and finishes. And to help keep us on track with our own projects too.

So we have created 'Sew, Stitch, Snap, SHARE' where we sew and stitch, snap a photo or three, and share it to our link, which we co-host on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month.

Please link up what you have been sewing and stitching so far this month, and visit some of the other bloggers who have linked in too. You can write as much or as little about your project as you like, or simply let your photos do the talking. Julie and I have decided to share the commenting on linked blog posts, so as long as you aren't a no-reply blogger you will receive a comment from either one of us.

Thanks for joining us, we are both looking forward to seeing what everyone has been sewing.

Hi I'm Linda. Here's a little "show & tell" of my quilty adventures. I am a mother of two grown up children & granny to two now! I've been making quilts on & off for a few years, I particularly enjoy making colourful scrappy quilts! Comments always welcome .........Oh, and I'm happy to share my pics but please credit them with a link back to this blog, thanx!